Machine for making box-blanks.



MACHINE FOBMAKING 80X BLANKS.

mwu cmou rim: n'nv 5.1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. J. MILLER. MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS. mrucmou HLED SULY 5. m2.

1,295,187. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z- maes- W 7 WA AW www 1. l. MiLLER. MACl-HNE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS. APPLICATION mm JULY 5. m2

Patented Feb. 25, 1912).

l. J. MILLER. MACHINE FOR m'kmc BOX BLANKS. APPLiCATtOR 'FILED JULY 5. HHZ.

Patented Fb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS SHEET 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS J. MILLER, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO WIREBOUNDS PATENTS COMPANY, OF KIT'I'ERY, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX-BLANKS.

Application filed July 5, 19127 Ta.- all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jrucs J. MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of St. Joseph. Berrien county, Michigan. have imgented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Box-Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for making box blanks of that kind in which the diti'erent sections thereof are reinforced by cleats and flexibly connected together by wires extending longitudinally upon the outer surface of the blank.

More specifically considered, my invention relates to machines of that kind in which loose blocks are employed for spacing the cleats apart endwisc.

The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically and forcibly extracting the loose spacing blocks from between the ends of the cleats after the latter are wired together.

Another object is to provide means for returning the blocks in a step by step manner, after they are extracted from the blank materials. whereby for each block extracted, another block is brought within reach of the operator or attendant who places the cleats and blocks in the machine.

It is also an object to provide ertain dc tails and features of construction tending to increase the general eiliciency of a box blank machine of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a box blank machine en'ibodying the principles of my invention.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 707,767.

Fig. T is a detail section on line 7 in Fig.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the extracting mechanism.

Fig. 9 an. enlarged detail section on line 9 -9 in Fig.

Fig. 10 is a perspective of one of the spacing blocks.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of one of the grippers of the block extracting mechanism.

As thus illustrated. my invention comprises a frame A havin Y parallel and ion gitudinally extending cieat guides a, and provided with staplers B 0. any suitable character. arranged over the path of travel of the blank nmterials. like channel irons with a s ot on in the bottom of each channel. and at a the bottom of each guide is entirely cut away for a short distance to form an opening through which the spacing blocks C may be extracted downward. The spacing blocks C might be called discrete elements since each, in itself, is an entirely independent, self-contained element not connected in any way with the other parts of the machine, and which is inserted in and removed from the guideways of the conveyor during the operation of the machine. These blocks, it will be seen, are proyided with lateral grooves c that engage the bottom flanges of the guides, whereby the said blocks are held against displacement from the guides while approaching the openings 11 in the bottom of the. guides.

The feed mechanism for feeding the blank materials along the guides comprises the fast running belts D that engage the lower ends of the blocks and by friction force the cleats and blocks and veneer along to the staples. The step by step motion necessary for the blank materials is produced by the ratchet operated feed chains E which engage the top of the blanks. -Thc staples are driven while the materials are at rest, and then the actuation of the chains E causes the materials on the machine to advance one step. It will be understood that the feed devices 1) and E can be operated by any suitable means.

The mechanism for extracting the blocks C from the blank materials comprises a pair of grippers F for each side of the machinc that is to say, for each guide. These grippers have flanges f that engage the grooves c on the blocks t, and are pivoted at f upon the levers f which latter are loosely pivoted at f'" upon the machine. Springs f are used at the pivots f to yieldingly hold the grippers F in the position shown in Fig. 5. A spring connection f is employed for forcing apart the rear ends of the levers i A bracket or yoke G is fixed on the machine in position to embrace the rear ends of the levers f and provided with a notch g which permits the two levers to spring apart at their rear ends when in the position shown in Fig. 5. This'locks the grippers in position to receive the advancin spacing block C. as shown. and the forcing of the spacing block between the grippers forces the rear ends of the levers f together. thus releasing them from the notch 5 The grippers with the spacing blocks therein are then caused to move downward by the cam H on the shaft I. through the medium of the lever h i and the pitman b the said lever having a roll it engaged by said cam to move the pitman ii. upward at the proper time. The spring connection It in the pitman [l permits the lever il to vibrate idly while the levers f are locked by the engagement of one of the latter with the notch g. When the levers f are unlocked. then the pitman it moves the rear ends of the levers f upward. and thereby moves the grippers F downward. \Vhen thus moved downward the said grippers deposit the blocks C upon the guide I. and at this time the pivot f comes into play to enal'fle the block to rest squarely upon the bottom of said guide. The pusher J moves back and forth on the said guide. and is operated by a cam K on the shaft h. through the medium of the pitman and the lever j. the said pitman having a roll i that engages said am. After the block C comes to rest on the guide. I. the pusher J then moves forward and expels the block from between the two grippers. At 3' the same time this pushes the entire row of! blocks forward-that is tosay. there is all ays a solid row of blocks in the guide l. and each addition of one moves the entire row one. step in the direction necessary to bring the one at. the other end within reach of the operator or attendant. Thus the blocks are automatically extracted from between the ends of the cleats, after the latter are wired together. and the extracted blocks are returned step by step to the operators position. The lever h is retracted by a spring [L5, and the pitman J is retracted by the spring j". The extracting mechanism remains practically inert: or dormant until 21 the operation just described takes place automatically.

\Vith a machine of the foregoing character. the loose spacing blocks can not remain in the blank. because each block is forcibly extracted before the blank leaves the machine.

hat 1 claim as my invention is:-

1. A wire bound box blank machine comprising feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials step by step in one direction, spacing blocks for insertion at will between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials. said blocks being spaced apart by the incoming cleats. mechanism for automatically engaging the blocks in succession to extract them from the said materials, causing each block to become inoperative until again inserted by manual effort. and means for wiring the said materials together.

2. A wire bound box blank machine comprising feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials step by step in one direction. spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials. mechanism for automatically engaging the blocks in succession to extract them from the said materials. and means for wiring the said materials together. said mechanism including means for releasing the blocks after the extraction thereof.

3. A wire bound box blank machine com prising feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials step by step in one direction. spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials. mechanism flor autoimitically engaging the blocks in sliccession to extract them from the said materials. and means for wiring the said ntaterials together. said mechanism including a cam controlled gripping device for pullingthe block downward at a given point in the path of travel thereof.

it. i\. wire bound box blank machine comprising l'ced mechanism for advancing the blank materials step by step in one directioh. s iacing blocks for insertion at will between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials, said blocks being spaced apart by the incoming cleats. mechanism for automatically engaging the blocks in succession to extract them from the said materials. causing each block to become inoperative until again in sertcd by manual. effort, means for wiring the said materials together, and means for receiving and returning the extracted blocks in the opposite direction.

A wire bound box blank machine comrising feed mechanism for advancing the block C is forced into the grippers. T hen lank materials step by step in one direction,

spacing blocks for insertion between. the

ends of thc cleats and movable along \vitl'r the advancing blank materials, lllttlitllllrilll for automatically engaging the blocks in succcsaion to extract them from the said mat rials, means for wiring the said materials tugclhtl, said nu chani m including means for releasing the blocks after the extraction thereof. and lucanH or receiving and return ing lhc extracted blocks in the opposite dircction.

'5 A wire bound box blank machine c m-- prising" l'ccd ltltPlltllilFltl for advancing the blank lllilll'tiillr atep by atop in onc direction, paciug blocka tor imcrtion between the end: of the clcata and movable along with the :n'lvain-ing blank materials, mcclur niam for automatically engaging the blocks in succession to extract them from the said niatcrials, means for \virin the said materials: together, said niechaniam including a cam controlled gripping device for pulling the block downward at a given point in the path (of travel thereof. and means for recciving and returning the extracted blocks in the opposite direction.

7. A wire hound box blank machine compri ing feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials atcp by step in one direction, spacing blocks for insertion betwccn'tho cinla oi the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank n'iatcriala, mechanism for automatically engaging the blocks in aicceaaion to extract them from the said materials, means for wiring the said mat! rialtogether. meana for maintaining the extracted blocks togetherin a row, and means for pushing the row forward each time a block is added thereto.

wire bound box blank machine comprising feed mechanism for advancing thehlauk inatcriala Step by atcp in one direction, spacing blot-kn for inacrtion between the and; of the cleats and movable along with Eluadvancing blank materials. mechanism for automatically engaging the blocks in ancceaaionto extract them from the said materials, means for Wiring the said materiala together, said mechanism including means for releasing the blocks after the extraction thereof. means for maintaining the extracted blocka together in a row, and manna for pushing the row Forward each time a block is added thereto.

9. A wire bound box blank machine compriaing feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials step bv step in one direction, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials, mechaniam for automatically engaging the blocks in hllPCQFSifill to extract them from the said materials, n cans for wiring the Filld materials together, said mechanism including a cam controlled gripping device for pulling the block dowmvard at a given point in the path of travel thereof, means for maintainin; the extracted blocks togethcr in a row, and means for pushing the row for 'ard each time a block is added thereto.

1H. it wire hound hox blank machine comprising t'ccd mechanism for advancing the blank material step by vstep in one direction, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials, mechanism for autonnttically engaging the blocks in ant-cc aion to extract them from the said matcriala, means for wiring the said materials together, guides for the cleats and blocks, and meanH on tho blocks for engaging said guides to prevent upward diaplaccmeat of the blocks. said guides having opening-a for delivering the blocks to said mecha- IllSIZL 11. A wire bound box blank machine c0mpriaing feed mechanism For advancing the blank materials sttp by step in one direction. apacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials, mechanism for automatically engaging the blocks in succession to extract them from the said materials, means for wiring the said materials together. said mechanism including means for rclcaaing the blocks after the extraction thereof. guides for the cleats and blocks, and means on the. blocks for engaging raid guides to prevent upward displacement of the blocks, said guides having openings for delivering the blocks to said mechanism.

112. A wire bound box blank machine comprising feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials stop by step in one direction. apacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats and movable along with the advancing blank materials, mechaniam for automatically engaging the blocks in succession to extract them from the said materials, means for wiring the said materials togcthcr. aaid mechanism including a cam controlled gripping device for pulling the block downward at a given point in the path of travel thereof, guides for the cleats and blocks, and means on the blocks for en gaging said guides to prevent upward displacement of the blocks, said guides having openings for delivering the blocks to said mechanism.

13. A box blank machine comprising spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, inean for wiring the sections of the blank together, and means disposed in position to receive the oil-coming blocks operating autonnitically to cause the forcible dis placcment of said blocks rom the blanks.

14. A. box blank machine comprising spat-mg bloeks for insertion bet n the ends of the eleats. m ans for wiring the seetions of the blank top-1 llttl'. and mean di posed in po ition to reeeit'e the onwoming l lotks open at'ing automatieall) to eause the tor ible di plaeement of said bloeks from the blanks t gether with means to eause the said blot-ks to be :nltomatieally returned to the operator's position. said latter means operating in e \'rle with the means for eausing the displaeenient of the bloeks.

13. A box blank machine eolnprising spaeiug ble: ks for manual insertion between the ends of the eleats. means for wiring the :-(-tl ions of the blank together. and automatie means for rant-ting the displaeemeut ot said bloeks from the blanks. operating to pull the I blot-ks downward from between the eleats.

It". A box blank maehine eoniprising H'Ptlt'illgf blorlis for separating the eleats. and autontatie mr ans for eausing the blot-ks to be withdrawn in a downward direetion from between the eleats. said mean being disposed in posit ion to reeeive the approaehin; blot-ks.

IT. A box blank maehine eompri ing spaeing bloeks for separating the eleats. and autoniat ie means for eausin g the bloeks to be withdrawn in a downward direetion from between the eleats.said means being: disposed in position to re eire the approaehing bloelw. said bloeks t'o|'|nin a sparing means whit-h i.- operatit'e without adjustment in eonjune tion with eleats of ditl'erent length 18. A box blank maehine eomplising spaeing hloeks for separat ing the ('leats. autir matie means for eausing the bloeks to be \t'ithdra t'n in a downward direetion from between t"e eleats. said means being disposed in position to receive the approarhiujg' bloeks. and means having teeth whieh impinge upon the longitudinal surt'aees ot' the blanks for engagin gthe blanks to feed the same For ward.

ll). A Inaehine l'or making; box blanks b sueeessivelv wiring together the side material and eleats forming the pre\'iousl ie eonneeted side parts of each blank. to prodnee a llexible blank as the immediate re ult of said wiring operation. comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, paving bloeks for insertion between the ends of the cleats. Feeding means for \draneing said blot-ks .-ttl materials relatively' to said staplers. extractor meehanism toward whieh the blocks are advaneed by said feeding means. and means for operating said meehanism to t'oreibly disengage the bloeks from the blanks.

20. A maehine for making box blanks by si|eeessi\'el wiring together the side matt rial and eleats forn'ting the previouslv un eonneeted side parts of each blank. to produee a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation, comprising staple] s for applying the, binding wires, spaeing bioeks for insertion between the ends of the rleats. lei-ding means for adraneing said lilorks and materials relatitel} to said t'apier extraetor inerhanism toward whirh the blot-ks are adtanred by said feeding mean and means for operating said meehanism to l'oreibly disengage the bloeks troni the blanks. parallel guides for said blot-ks :nd rleats. said guides being constructed to re lease said blocks. and said nieehanism in luding means arranged below each guide to enag'e the approaehin; blot-ks.

it. maehine for making box blanks y slieeessirely \\'irin; together the side matt rial and eleat's forming the previously uneonlttt'lttl side parts of eaeli blank, to prodnee a Ilexible b ank as the immediate result of said wiring operation. eolnprising: staplers for applying the binding wires. spacing bloeks tor insertion between the ends of the. (deals. 'leeding' means for adraneing said bloeks and materials relat ivel tosaid staplers. extractor ineehanism toward whieh the bloeks are ad rant-ed by said feeding means. and means for operating said meehanism to forcibly disengage the bloeks from the blanks. said tltt'tlttluisni int-hiding elements for en,5 1a;in; and disengaging the bloeks.

22. A maehine t'or making box blanks by rturessiHl) wirin; together the side mate rial and eleats forming the pfitwiously unron ne ted side parts ot'eaeli blank, to prodnee a llexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation. romprisin; staplers for applying the binding: wires. spaeing blot-ks for insertion between the ends of tho rleats. feeding means for adraneing' said blot-ks and materials relatively to said staplers. extraetor lneehanisln toward whieh the blot-ks are admitted by said feeding means. and means for operating said lt'll't'llzt nisln to torribly disengage the blot-ks from the blanks. said meehanism inellldiltg lurksarranged to reeeive the bloeks, and said one ehine having means for removing the blot-ks from said l'orks.

2 3. A mal'hine for making box blanks by sueeessivel wiring: together the side mate rial and eleats forming the previously uneonneeted side parts of ttlt'lt blank. to produeo a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation. eomprising staplers successively wiring together the side material and cleats forming the previously unconnected side parts of each blank, to produce a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation. comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, feeding means for advancing said blocks and materials relatively to said staplers, extractor mechanism toward which the blocks are advanced by said feeding means, means for operating said mechanism to forcibly disengage the blocks from the blanks, said mechanism including elements for receiving the blocks, and means for moving said elements into and out of the path of said blocks.

25. A machine for making box blanks by successively wiring together the side mate rial and cleats forming the previously unconnected side parts of each blank, to produce a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation, comprising staplers for applying the binding wires. spacing blocks fox-insertion between the ends of the cleats, guides for said blocks and cleats, said guides and blocks being relatively formed to prevent upward disl'ilatvement of the blocks from the guides, and feeding means for causing said blocks and cleats to move along said guides.

26. A machine for making box blanks by successively wiring together the, side mate rial and cleats forming the previously uncon nectcd side parts of each blank, to produce a flexible blank as the immediate result. of said wiring operation, comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, guides for said blocks and cleats, said guides and blocks being relatively formed to prevent upward displacmnent of the blocks from the guides, and feeding means for causing said blocks and cleats to slide along said guides, said relative formation including cotiperatingribs and grooves on the guides and blocks.

27. A machine for making box blanks by successively wiring together the side material and cleats forming the previously unconnected side parts of each blank, to produce a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation, comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, spacin blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, guides for said blocks and cleats, said guides and blocks being relatively formed to ,prevent upward displacement of the blocks from the guides, and feeding means for rausing said blocks and cleats to slide along said guides, said relative formation including and said machine. comprising automatic eX- tractors having means for engaging said grooves to remove the blocks from said guides grooves in the sides of the blocks,

after the cleats spaced apart thereby are wired together.

28. machine for making box blanks by successively wiring together the side material aml cleats forming the previously unconnected side parts of each blank, to produce a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation, comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, feeding means for advancing said blocks and materials relative to said staplers, extractor mechanism toward which the blocks are advanced by said feeding means, and means for operating said mechanism to forcibly disengage the blocks from the blanks, said devices including a ratchet feed for controlling the motion of the materials relatively to said staplers and a relatively fast operating friction feed for propelling the blocks toward the staplers.

2U. machine for makingbox blanks by v uccessively wiring together the side ma terial and cleats forming the previously un connected side parts of each blank. to n'o dtlr'e a flexible blank as the immediate result of said wiring operation, comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, feeding means for advancing said blocks and materials relative to said staplers, extractor mechanism toward which the blocks are advanced by said feeding means, and means for operating said mechanism to forcibly disengage the blocks from the blanks, said devices including a friction feed for engaging said blocks, and a ratchet; feed for engaging the upper surface of the blanks.

30. A machine for making box blanks by successively wiring together the side matcrial and cleats forming the. previously unconnected parts of each blank, to produce a flexible blank as the. immediate result of said wiring operation, comprising staplers for applying the binding wires, spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, guides for said blocks and cleats, said guides and blocks being relatively formed to prevent, upward displacement of the blocks from the guides, and feeding means for causing said blocks and cleats to move along said guides, said relative formation including cooperating ribs and grooves on the guides and blocks, and said machine comprising automatic extractors having surfaces con'iplemcntary to the guiding surfaces of the blocks.

31. A box blank machine comprising discrete spacing blocks for insertion between the, ends of the cleats of a box blank on a conveyor, means for wiring the sections of the blank together, and automatic means for positively removing the blocks from the .blanks and from the conveyor.

32. A box blank machine comprising discrete spacing blocks for insertion between the ends of the cleats, means for .wiri nhe sections of the blank tugetheigl antbitnatic means for positively removing the blocks from the blanks, and means for' realising th'e return of said blocks adjacent to th ir point of insertion and operating in cycle ,with the means for removing the blocks.

33. A box blank machine comprising a forwardly extending guideway and a rearwardly extending guide-way for spacing blocks, discrete spacing blocks, sta lin 1' devices for applying binding wires t the box materials. means for feeding forwairdly box blank materials assembled with said blocks and means for transferring said, blobks from one guideway to the other.

34. A box blank machine conipirising a forwardly extending guideway and a rearwardly extending gnideway for spacing blocks, discrete spacing blocks, stapling devices for applying binding Wires tothe box materials, means for feeding for\" d1 box blank materials assembled with said b ocks, means for transferring said blocks from one nude-way to the other, and means for feedmg the blocks along the rearwardly extending guideway.

35. A box blank machine comprising a set of discrete devices for spacing the ends of the cleats of a box blank assembled on a eonveyer, means for wiring the sections of the blank togethe and automatic means for positively removing the devices from their spacing position on the eonveyer.

36. A box blanl; machine comprising a set of dis rete devices for spacing the ends of the cleats, means for wiring the sections of the blank together, automatic means for positively removing the devices from their spacing position, and means for causing the return of said devices adjacent to their point of insertion and operating in cycle with the means for removing the devices.

Signed by me at St. Joseph, this 26 day of June, 1912.

JULIUS J. MILLER W'itnesses Be A. GAsT, ALBERT C. TILLY. 

